Roger Cone

Roger Cone is a Research Professor at the University of Michigan, holding roles as the Mary Sue Coleman Director of the Life Sciences Institute and Vice Provost of the Biosciences Initiative. He is also a Tadataka Yamada Distinguished University Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology in the Medical School and a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at LSA. His research focuses on the central nervous system’s regulation of energy storage, with emphasis on obesity, cachexia, and anorexia nervosa. Key contributions include studies on the melanocortin system’s role in energy homeostasis and its implications for metabolic disorders.

His academic positions include leadership in interdisciplinary initiatives, bridging life sciences and medical research. Research highlights include identifying MC3R and MC4R receptor functions, linking nutritional state to growth and puberty timing, and exploring therapeutic targets for obesity. Cone collaborates with labs and teams globally, contributing to drug development (e.g., Setmelanotide) and genetic studies of eating disorders. His work integrates neuroscience, endocrinology, and pharmacology, addressing both fundamental mechanisms and clinical applications.

Key affiliations include the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute and Medical School, with administrative oversight of biosciences initiatives. His research is supported by grants focusing on melanocortin pathways, leptin sensitivity, and metabolic disease mechanisms. Collaborations involve multidisciplinary teams, emphasizing translational research from basic science to clinical trials.